The Game
The Angelo State Rams will take the field for the last time in 2010 and look to even their season record against Lone Star Conference crossover foe Central Oklahoma at San Angelo Stadium Saturday. ASU holds a perfect 3-0 mark against LSC North Division opponents, but will have a tall task against the Bronchos, who are averaging 32.1 points per game. Both offenses are high-flying, but not as powerful as four T-38 jets that will fly over the stadium prior to kickoff, part of Angelo State's Military Appreciation Day festivities. All active duty and retired military personnel and their families will receive free admission to the contest and are invited to RamJam, a complimentary pregame tailgate, at the LeGrand Alumni Center.
The Series
Angelo State holds a 16-6-1 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1973. In that first meeting, the Rams and Bronchos settled for a 7-7 tie. Angelo State has historically prevailed in the meetings, but the Bronchos have won three of the last five. ASU was victorious in the last meeting between the two teams, 27-18, in 2007. In that game, Angelo State quarterback Josh Neiswander recorded his first win as a starter, completing 12-of-26 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.
The Coaches
Angelo State: Dale Carr (Colorado State, '76) took over the ASU program in 2005 and has guided the Rams to a 27-36 overall mark, including a NCAA Division II postseason appearance in his first season. Carr was previously head coach at Tyler Junior College.
Central Oklahoma: Tracy Holland (Northern Colorado, '78) is in his third year at the head of the Central Oklahoma program with a 13-19 overall record. He directed the Bronchos to the Lone Star Conference North Division championship in his first year at the helm. He's coached 23 first- or second-team All-Lone Star Conference North Division performers in that span.
The Program
Angelo State won the NAIA National Championship in 1978 and has won three Lone Star Conference Championships (1978, 1984, 1987). The Rams have seen five NCAA DII playoff appearances and produced 55 All-Americans. Angelo State has sent 11 student-athletes on to successful NFL careers, including Pierce Holt, who earned two Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers in 1988-89, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Legendary Baylor head coach Grant Teaff coached at ASU, and has been inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame with Holt and former Ram tackle Rodney Cason.
This Week's Opponent
The University of Central Oklahoma is located in Oklahoma City, Okla., and has an enrollment of 15,500. The Bronchos compete as members of the LSC North Division and went 4-7 overall last season, before posting a 2-8 mark going into Saturday's season finale. The Bronchos have lost five consecutive games. UCO went 3-2 in the North Division last season and finished third. The Bronchos returned 32 letterwinners and 10 starters from last season, including four All-Lone Star Conference selections. Outside Linebacker Tucker Cason was an All-LSC First Team selection as a sophomore last season. This year, the Bronchos are led by Josh Birmingham, who has rushed for 1,158 yards in 10 games, the 16th-best per game average in the nation, and leads the nation in scoring with 12.6 points per game.
Ties with Central Oklahoma
• Three players list Arlington, Texas, as their hometown, including ASU's V'Keon Lacey and Cetnral Oklahoma's Terrance Davis and Braden Winn.
• Angelo State's Colton Barnes, Terrance Preston and Travis McCloud are from Bryan, Texas, along with UCO's Artrell Woods.
• Four players list Dallas as their home town - Markeith Jones (ASU), Stetson Edwards (ASU), Devin McDonald (ASU), and Chris Robbs (UCO).
• Angelo State reserve lineman Jeremey Henry and Central Oklahoma's Thomas Hill are from
• Three former high school teammates will be reunited Saturday. Angelo State's Shiloh Hickman and Terre Camille graduated from Westfield High School in Houston, Texas, along with Chas Townsend (UCO).
• Preston Wimberly (ASU) and Seyitan Akindumila (UCO) are from Richardson, Texas.
